Water treatment



n vOct. '2, 1945 s. A. wlNKELMANN2 WATER TREATMENT Filed July .1. 1942 /N VENTR wgfvw SAMUEL A.WINKELMANN 1 TTORNEY or generator, represented generallyat 22. The anode 4maybe constructed of any suitable inactive material such as carbon-for example, while the cathode may be composed of a similar material or may be composed of a metal such as iron.

, The water inthe conduit is subjected to thef electrolytic action which produces two principal results. Sodium chloride iny the water is decomposed to form sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite. It will be understood that the specific Y manner of carrying out the electrolysis will be largely dependent upon the specific character of the Water treated, the type of electrodes used, the size of the conduit, and rate 'of .flow of water. In one test it was demonstrated that with a current of 12 amperes the desired rreaction would take place in 2,000 barrels of water in the period of one day. Thus, hypochlorous acid, as sodiuml hypochlorite, was .present in amount corresponding to about 0.5 part per million, which is above the minimum for killing bacteria. Also the amount of sodium hydroxide present in the water was increased so that the water was rendered definitely alkaline V(pI-l1 above I, about '7.3) which caused a conversion oi bicarbonates to carbonates and also a conversion of a substantial proportion of the iron compounds to ironhydroxides.

" After being subjected to the electrolytic treatment the water is introduced into a tank or settling vessel 2t. As shown, this vessel is constructed withY an. inclined bottom 2t having Ia' horizontal central sectionrZB. A pipe 32 is disposedin the horizontal section for removing accumulated-solids from the vessel.; A plurality of nozzles 34 are also disposed in the horizontal section for the 'purposemf injecting'gas into the tank, the gas being led to the nozzles through line 36. The vessel is divided into two sections by a centrally disposed cylindrical membert having a frusta-conical bottom portion. An exit pipe 44 leads from` the side of the vessel for the purpose of conducting the treated water therefrom. LA valved pipe 46 leads into pipe t and `is employed as described below.

'I'he Waterleaving the vessel is preferably flltered and to accomplish this a valve d is provided in pipe d4 which is closed so as to cause the4 water to flow into arpipe 5t controlled by a valve 52 which is open when the water'is to be filtered, Pipe 50 leads to any lsuitable type'o v pounds is accomplished. The water, after passing downwardly through the cylindrical member, passes into the outer section of the tank where quiescent 'conditions obtain and settling 'is sub-`r stantially completed. The water passes from the tank 24 through pipes 44 and 50 whichjlead to' ous solution. Only a small amount of phosphateA is required for this purpose', the specific amount being dependent upon the alkaline earth content Yoi? the water subjected to-treatment and the emciency of the prior settling steps.A l

After passing through the filter, the water will be substantially 'free from a tendency to preciplf tate insoluble'salts and will be sterile, so that it may be introduced into an injection well Without plugging the' sands. -v

f Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore described may .be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims. n .l

filter which is represented generallyv at 5t, and l lthe iiltered water is conducted from the system `through pipe 56. f

lReturning to the description of the process, the water ows out ofthe conduit l0 and into the top of the-cylindrical member 38. A suitable gas,

Apreferably air, is introduced into the vtank through nozzles 34 and is conned tothe cylindrical center section. 'I'he gas accomplishes agitation of the water. and keeps calcium carbonate crystals in intimate contact with the water.' When the system lis started into operation, calvcium carbonate crystals from -an extraneous source will ordinarily be introduced into the -water to assist in accomplishing precipitation;

however, after the reaction has gone' on for some time calcium carbonate crystals will be continuously separating from `the water, falling down into the horizontal central section of the tank, and will be forced upwardly by the action of the gas jets. Thev agitation'is also effective to improve the precipitation of iron hydroxides' from the water. Moreover, when air is used as the gas, substantial oxidation of the ferrous coin-v pounds to the more easilyl removed ferrie comupwardly through a zone maintained under t quiescentl conditions'y toy accomplish settling of I claim: f l. The process of purifying waste water containing sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, ironl salts, and bacteria, which comprises subjecting the 'waste water to electrolysis to render the watery alkaline and fo'rm so` dium hypochlorite, whereby calcium bicarbonate is converted to calcium carbonate, iron salts are converted to `lny'droxides, and bacteria' are killed, agitating the alkaline water with finely-divided, solid'calcium carbonate to increase the precipitation of calcium carbonate and vfacilitate separation of other insoluble materials, settling the water' to permit deposition of insoluble materials. treating the water substantially free from insoluble materials with 'a calcium sequestering agent, and filtering the treated water.

2. The lprocess of continuously preparing oil.

field waste waterfor disposal, :said watercontaining sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, iron salts and bacteria, which comprises subjecting a flowing stream of the oil eld waste water to electrolysis to render the water alkaline and form sodium hypochlorita y whereby calcium bicarbonate is converted to calcium carbonate, iron salts are converted to 'hydroxides, and bacteria are killed, passing the owing stream aftery the electrolysis downwardly in'contact with rising jets of air carrying nelydivided, solid calcium 'carbonate ,previously pre-r cipitated from the flowing' stream of water, to

.reduce the calcium carbonater supersaturation of vlthe water and to facilitate separation of other insoluble materials, passing the ilowing stream insoluble materials, treating the flowing stream vwith a calcium sequestering agent, and thereafter nltering the owing stream of water.

" SAMUEL A. 

